Posthole boring machine



6 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 5, 1954 F. BRINK ET A1.

POSTHOLE BORING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1951 Jan. 5, 1954 F. BRINK ET ALPOSTHOLE BORING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27 1951 ATTD RN EYSJan. 5, 1954 F. BRINK ET AL 2,665,116

POSTHOLE BORING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 132 .137 ijga i l I l x., Y f |1I EN m IN VEN TOR.

ATTDRNEYS Jan. 5, 1954 r-'. BRINK ET AL POSTHOLE BORING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 27, 1951 4 5f l lh l l Y 3 lllll.. I i 95546 LJf INVENTOR.

ATTRNYS Jan. 5, 1954 F. BRINK ET AL 2,665,116

POSTI-IDLE BORING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 QT? y y7.9 Vf .f1

INVENTOR. I QSZQ'I",

Ware/f' fafa@ ATTRN EYE Jan. 5, 1954 F! BRINK ET AL 2,665,116

` POSTHOLE BORING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1951 495 197.10 1N VENTOR. J0?

ATTRNEYS Patented Jan. 5, 1954 ilptllt 2 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to earth boring tools of the type used on truckplatforms for boring holes for telephone poles, posts, and the like, andin particular` a machine having a base with a derrick-likesuperstructure designed to he mounted on the platform of a truck or thelike with a boring shaft journaled in the derrick frame and having anauger on the lower end, and the invention also includes means foradjusting the auger carrying shaft to a vertical position or to dierentpositions in a plane extended longitudiw nally through the truck bodyand also to different positions in a plane extended transversely or thetruck body.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a post hole auger whereinthe auger and the shaft on which the auger is carried may readily beadjusted to different positions in relation to a truck or other carryingvehicle whereby the axis of the auger and shaft is vertical even thoughthe vehicle may he positioned on the side of a hill extendedupwardlyfrom the side ci a roadway, or on a grade or slope of substantially anyangle.

Various types of earth boring machines have been provided for boringholes at different angles and whereas the axis of the boring shaft ofconventional machines of this type is adjustable in a plane extendedlongitudinally through a carrying vehicle it is difficult to adjust theaXis to a vertical position when it is desired to bore a hole on theside of a hill or embankment extended upwardly from a roadway. With thisthought in mind this invention contemplates a universal mounting of apost hole boring tool whereby the axis o the boring tool shaft may beadjusted to a vertical position regardless of the position oi the truckbody 'on which the device is mounted.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means forconstructing an earth boring tool mounting whereby the axis of the motorshaft is adjustable both longitudinally and transversely.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable mounting forearth boring tools that may readily be mounted on a platform of a truckwith the drive shaft thereof connected to the power take oi of thetruck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a post hole boring toolthat may readily be mounted upon a truck platform in which the tool mayreadily be adjusted to a position with the auger suspended above theground for transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a post hole boring tool inwhich the boring tool shaft is journaled in an upwardly extended der-Cil rick frame and wherein the device may also be used for withdrawingtelephone poles, posts and the like from holes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved post holeboring machine which is of a simple and economical construction.

Vith these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies a derricl: superstructure mounted on a gear housing with aboring tool shaft journaled in the superstructure and extended throughthe gear housing and with the superstructure and housing carried by abase mounted on the platform of a truck body with means for actuatingthe auger and also means for adjusting the position of the augercarrying shaft longitudinally and transversely of the truck body.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View illustrating the improved post holeboring tool mounted on a truck with the structure in an inclinedposition on the truck in which position the tool may readily be conveyedfrom one position to another.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the rear portion of the truck withthe tool shown in a vertical position in full lines and in an inclinedposition in dotted lines and also showing an auger of a smaller size onthe shaft of the tool in the dotted line position.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational View showing the truck on an incline withthe boring tool vertically positioned.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the tool in a vertical position withthe truck on an oppositely sloping incline.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view also similar to that shown in Figurel showing the tool ad justed to a different angle and illustrated withthe truck platform removed.

Figure 6 is a detail showing a transverse section through the mountingelement shown in Fign ure 5 illustrating supporting jacks attached toside bars of the base.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale illustratingthe gear housing with the hydraulic control valves mounted on the sidethereof and with the superstructure, truck body and boring tool shaftbroken away.

Figure 8 isa sectional plan taken on line E-S of Figure 7 showing theinterior of the gear houslng.

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section through the gear housingshowing the auger shaft in a vertical position.

Figure is a cross section through the clutch housing taken on lineIll-l@ of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is also a cross section through the clutch housing taken online II-II of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a cross section taken on line |2-I2 of Figure 2 showing thebase mounted on the platform of the truck body.

Figure 13 is a sectional plan showing the mounting base with the basepositioned on the platform of the truck body.

Figure 14 is a detail illustrating an attachment of one of the siderails of the base to the truck body being taken on line Ill-I4 of Figure13.

Figure 15 is a sectional plan illustrating vthe attachment shown inFigure lll.

Figure 1S is a vertical section through the upper part of the augercarrying shaft illustrat ing the piston and cylinders therein wherebypressure is applied to the upper end of the auger shaft.

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a hydraulic valve forcontrolling the adjusting cylinders and also the auger carrying shaftcylinder.

Figure 18 is a detail illustrating a swivel connection used between theends of the cylinders and superstructure in which the auger carryingshaft is mounted.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote4corresponding parts the post hole boring tool or digger of thisinvention includes a tubular drill bit carrying rod I0, a drill rodhousing II in which the rod is journaled and through which the rodextends, a superstructure I2 mounted on the housing I l and providingsupporting means for the upper end of the drill rod, a clutch |3 in aclutch housing I4 that is mounted on the housing II, a piston I5positioned in the drill rod and through which iluid under pressure isforced to feed a drill bit i6 on the drill rod I il downwardly, ahydraulic cylinder I1 for tilting the drill rod in a longitudinal plane,a hydraulic cylinder AI8 for tilting the drill rod in a transverselydisposed plane, and a pump I9 by which uid under pressure is supplied tothe drill rod and cylinders through suitable valves.

rEhe drill rod IU is slidably mounted in the housing through anelongated bearing sleeve 20 that is provided with elongated grooves 2|into which splines 22 on the surface of the drill rod extend, as shownin Figure 8 and the opposite ends of the sleeve are journaled in rollerthrust bearings 23 and 2d, as shown in Figure 9. The

ends of the sleeve 20 extend through packing glands 25 and 2li formed bylanged bushings 21 and 28, respectively which extend into hubs 29 and3i] on the upper and lower panels of the housing II, and which are heldby bolts 3| and 32, respectively.

The sleeve 29 is provided with a bevel gear 33 that is secured to a ange34 thereon by bolts 35 and the gear 33 meshes with a beveled pinion 36on a stub shaft 31 that extends from the clutch I3.

The stub shaft 31 is journaled in bearings 38 and 39 in a cylinder 4B ofan inner Wall 4| of the housing II and the shaft is also provided withroller thrust bearings 42 and 43.

The end of the cylinder 4G that extends into the clutch housing I4 isjournaled in a bearing 44 which is supported from the outer wall of thehousing by arms 45.

A driving shaft 4e extends from the opposite end of the clutch and thisshaft is journaled in a 4 bearing 41. The clutch collar 48 is slidablymounted on the shaft 46 and the collar is actuated by a yoke 49 that ispivotally mounted on an arm 5|] extended from the bearing 41 by a pin5|.

The outer end of the shaft 45 is provided with a section 52 of auniversal joint, a complementary section 53 of which is carried by theend 54 of a telescoping shaft 55. The shaft 55 is connected to a drivingshaft 58 through another universal joint 51 and the shaft 5G isconnectedto a coupling 58 through a power and take oi shaft 59 of a truck uponwhich the well boring tool is mounted.

The 'sha-ft 56 extends through a frame 60 in which the shaft isjournaled in bearings 6| and 52 and the frame is also provided with acountershaft 63 that is journaled in bearings 64 and 65 and vthecountershaft is driven from the shaft 56 by a chain 65 which is trainedover sprockets 61 and 68. The sprocket 61 is provided with a jaw clutch63 and the jaw clutch is actuated by a shift lever 19 through a yoke 1|and clutch collar 12. The countershat 53 extends through a beam 13 onwhich the Dump IS is mounted and the shaft extends through pumpsproviding means for operating the same.

The beam 13, and also a beam 1li provide mounting means for the shaft 55and frame 60 and these beams are carried by parallel rails 15 and '16,which are channel-shaped in cross section and which are mounted on aplatform 11 of a truck bod-y by tongues 18 and 19 that extend upwardlyfrom a base plate These parts are secured to the platform 11 by bolts 8|and 82, as illustrated in Figure 14.

The bearing 44 in which the end of the cylinderl 4D of the gear housingII that extends into the clutch housing I4 is journaled, as shown inFigure 9, is supported by transversely disposed arms 83 and E4, theouter ends of which are provided with trunnions G5 and 3E and thetrunnions are journaled in bearings 81 and 88, respectively on extendedends of the side rails '5 and 16 of the supporting frame that is boltedto the platform 11.

The bearing 44 is secured on the end of the cylinder 46 by a collar 89that is secured in posi-I tion by a set screw 9G and the bearing 41 issupported in the housing by vertically disposed rods 9| and 92.

The clutch yoke actuating shaft 5| of the collar 43 of the clutch I3 isjournaled in the housing I4 in bearings 93 and 94 and an arm 95 on theouter end of the shaft is actuated by a hand lever 96 which is pivotallymounted on a pin 91 and which is provided with an arm 98 that isconnected to the end 99 of the lever 95 by a link Illa. A spring lill isconnected, at one end to the end 99 of the lever and, at the oppositeend to an eye |02 on a clip |03 of the valve housing |34 on the side ofthe gear housing I I.

The side rails 15 and 16 of the mounting frame are provided withcylindrical sockets |05 and |06 that are positioned to receive the upperends of tubular telescoping members |01 and |58 of jacks I 09 and l0, asillustrated in Figure 6. The jacks are provided with intermediatesleeves III and II2 in which pins ||3 and |I4, respectively, areinserted. The members |01 and |08 are provided with stops I|5 and IIBrespectively upon which the sockets |05 and |06 rest to provide meansfor supporting a mounting frame independent of the truck body with theparts in the position illustrated in Figure 5 wherein the drill bitcoacts with the jacks to provide three points of support.

The trunion arm 83 is provided with a bearing which, with .a bearingsection ||8 provides a swivel joint for a piston rod I I9 extended fromthe hydraulic cylinder I8, the upper end of which is attached to amounting bracket |29 on the side of the superstructure I2 whereby thesuperstructure and drill rod are tilted in a transversely disposedplane, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 upon expansion and contractionof the cylinder |B. The upper end of the cylinder E8 is connected to thebracket with a swivel connection |2I.

The upper end of the hydraulic cylinder |'I is also connected to thesuperstructure i2 through a bracket |22 with the upper end of thecylinder connected to the bracket by a universal joint I 23 and with thelower end of a piston rod |25, ein tended from the lower end of thecylinder, con nected to the cross beam 13 of the mounting frame by auniversal joint |25.

The piston I5 in the elongated cylinder |25 of the drill rod |9 isjournaled on a tubular stern |21 on the lower end of a cylinder |33. Thecylindei1 28 is provided with an internal passage |23 that is suppliedwith fluid under pressure through a connection |39 and the iiuid supplyto the chamber |29 passes downwardly through the stern |21 and into thelower end of the cylinder |25 thereby forcing the drill rod I iidownwardly. The piston |5 is in a xed position longitudinally and thestem |21 and cylinder |28 are held by a bolt |3| which extends throughthe upper parts |32 and |33 of the superstructure I2 and through anopening |35 in a tongue |35 on the upper end of the cylinder |23.

The cylinder |29 is also provided with an inner tubular member |35 thatis provided with a duid supply connection |31 at the upper end and alsowith an outlet connection |38 at the lower end, the said outletconnection extends through the wall of the cylinder |23 whereby iiuid issupplied to the cylinder |26 on the opposite side of the piston I5.

The piston |5 is provided with cup-shaped friction washers |39 and |49and the piston is mounted on 4a sleeve IM that is journaled on the stemthrough roller thrust bearings |42 and |53. The positionof the piston onthe stern is controlled by lock nuts |55 that are threaded on the stemwhich extends downwardly through the piston head |55 and also through apacking gland |45 which is held in the lower end of the piston by bolts|51. The washer |39 is mounted by bolts on the upper end of the piston|5, which is mounted on the stern |21.

The upper end of the drill rod is provided with a packing gland |58 thatis formed with a sleeve |59 which extends into the upper end of thegland and which is secured in position by bolts |59 that are carried inflanges |5| that extend through nanges |52. The bolts are provided withnuts |53 by which the sleeve of the packing gl-and may be adjusted.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinders I1 and I3and also to the drill rod i9 by a pump |9 with the uid controlled by thevalves |55, |55 and |55` in the valve housing |94, the valves beingshown in detail in Figure i7 wherein the pump is provided with adischarge pipe |51 and a suction pipe |58.

With the parts as illustrated in Figure 1'7 the pump discharge isconnected to the lower end of the cylinder |1 by a pipe |59 which isconnected to the pipe |51 through a cross connection |60 in the core |6|of the valve |54 and the suction of 6 the pump is connected by a pipe|52 to the upper end of the cylinder I1 with the pipe |52 connected tothe pipe |58 by a cross connection |53 in the core of the valve.

In this position the discharge of the pump, is closed of to the cylinderI 3, the valve core |65 of the valve |55 being in the neutral positionwhereby the cross connections |65 and |55 do not register with the pipe|51 and the pipe |51 or with a pipe |58 from the pipe |53. The valve |55is provided with a discharge connection |59 that extends to the upperend of the cylinder i3 and also a connection |19 that extends to theopposite end of the cylinder i3. By use of the cross connections |65 and|55 of the valve core |55, or the passages |1| and |12 of the valve iuidunder pressure may be applied to either end of the cylinder I3 `and thereturn connections may also be connected to either end.

The core i5! of the valve |55 is also provided with straight connections|13 and |15, similar to the connections I 1| and |12 whereby Iiuid maybe applied to and returned from the opposite ends of the cylinder I1.

The valve |56 controls the flow of fluid to the drill rod Iii and withthe parts as illustrated in Figure 17 the core |15 of the valve |55 ispositioned with the straight openings |16 and |11 aligned with dischargeand suction connections |18 and |15 and with connections |89 and EEE,respectively connected to the connections |35 and |31 of the cylinder|28 of the drill rod i5. The coro |15 or the valve |55 is also providedwith cross connections |82 and |83 by means or which fluid supply andreturn to the cylinder of the drill rod may be reversed.

The valves |55, |55 and |55 are controlled by hand levers I 54, |85 and|85 which are pivotally mounted in the valve housing by pins |81, |38and |89 and similarly connected to the valve core by pins |99, |9| and|92, respectively.

By this means the position of the drill rod and superstructure arepositively controlled by the hy draulic cylinders and the cylinders arecontrolled by the hand levers so that the drill rod and supportingstructure may be positioned so that the dril1 rod is vertical regardlessof the position of the body of a truck upon which the device is mountedand the device may be used for verticaily disposed post holes,particulariy as shown in full lines in Figure 2, or holes for anchors,which are preferably positioned at an angie or 45 degrees. It will alsobe understood that the parts are adjustable to bore holes at suitableangles in a longitudinal plane and also in a transverse plane so that apost hole or hole for an anchor may be bored in the side or a bank `atan angle of l5 ldegrees or at 4any suitable angle.

Superstructure and drill rods may also be adjusted to a position, suchas illustrated in Figure l, with the superstructure supported on a post|93 on the forward end of the mounting frame and having a fork |94 onthe upper end that is positioned to receive the superstructure.

It will also be understood that the device may be provided with meansfor withdrawing posts from holes and for this purpose a winch |95 ismounted on the platform of the truck and a cable |96, having a hook |91on the outer end, extends around a pulley |98 which is journaled in thebracket |22 and also over a pulley |99 that is journaled on a pin 293between the parts |32 and |33 in the upper end of the superstructure.

It will be understood that the swivel connections particularly betweenthe ends of the hydraulic cylinders and piston rods thereof may beformed in any suitable manner. A typical universal or swivel connectionis illustrated in Figure 18 wherein the lower end of the piston rod |24is connected to the joint |25 by a bolt 200 and the member |25 ispivotally mounted on a bolt 20| which extends to the lower or basesection of the joint.

With the shaft 59 connected to the power take off of a truck, tractor,or the like the drill rod is rotated through the mounting or bearingsleeve 20 with the gears 38 and 36 and through the clutch I3. As thedrill rod is rotated the valve |56 is actuated so that iiuid underpressure passes downwardly through the chamber |29 of the cylinder |28and is discharged through the lower end of the stem |27. With the pistonl iixed longitudinally by the stem |21 and cylinder |28 the pressure inthe cylinder |28 forces the drill rod I0 downwardly as it is rotated.With the drill rod passing downwardly iluid in the upper part of thecylinder |28 above the piston I5 passes through the tube |36 and back tothe pump or source of iiuid supply.

By actuating the valve |54 the cylinder may be expanded or contracted toadjust the position of the drill rod and superstructure whereby the rodmay be moved from the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, to theposition shown in dotted lines, or to the position illustrated in Figure1 where the drill bit is suspended above the ground for transportation.

By the same means the valve |55 may be actuated to expand or contractthe hydraulic cylinder I8 and by this means the drill rod andsuperstructure may be rotated in a plane positioned transversely of thetruck body so that the angle of an opening formed by the drill bit mayconform to the slope of the ground and the hole may extend at anysuitable angle in relation to the ground.

It will be noted that as the position of the drill rod is adjusted in atransverse plane in relation to the body of the truck the arms 83 and 84travel in slots 204 and 205 in the sides of the section I4 of thehousing and these arms are slidably mounted between angles 206 and 201on one side and 208 and 209 on the other.

It will also be noted in Figures l2 and 13 that the boring structure isslidably mounted by the beams 13 and 'M which are mounted on the rails'|5 and '68 and the rails are slidably mounted on the tongues 18 and 79whereby the device may readily be removed from the truck body.

front, rear and side walls and havingl vertically disposed slots in theside walls thereof, a support bearing mounted in the housing and havingarms extending outwardly of the housing through the slots in the sidewalls of the housing, means journalling the outer ends of the arms onsaid mounting frame, said arms pivotally supporting the drill rodhousing on the frame to swivel in a transversely disposed plane inrelation to the mounting frame by means of the support mounted withinthe housing, a clutch, mounted in said drill rod housing, an upwardlyextended superstructure mounted on the upper side of said drill rodhousing, a drill rod having a longitudinally disposed cylinder thereinextended through the said drill rod housing and superstructure andhaving a drill bit on the lower end, power driving means mounted on thesaid mounting frame and connected through universal joints to the saiddrill rod housing, means in the said drill rod housing for rotating thedrill rod, a piston positioned in the cylinder of the drill rod andhaving a piston rod the outer end of which is anchored in the upper endof the superstructure, a hydraulic cylinder mounted through universaljoints on the mounting frame and superstructure, respectively, andpositioned to rotate the said drill rod and superstructure in a planeextended longitudinally through the said mounting frame, a hydrauliccylinder also mounted through universal joints on the superstructure,and positioned to rotate the said superstructure and drill rod in aplane transversely positioned in relation to the said mounting frame,and means applying fluid under pressure to the said hydraulic cylindersand also to the cylinder of the drill rod.

2. A post hole boring tool as in claim 1 wherein a pump is mounted onthe said mounting frame, a valve housing having valves therein, andsuitable connections from the pump to the valve housing and from thevalve housing to the hydraulic -cylinders for adjusting the position ofthe drill rod and superstructure and also to the cylinder in the saiddrill rod for actuating the said drill rod.

FRANK BRINK. JOHN E. STAR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,238,388 Burnton Aug. 28, 1917 1,548,559 Simpson Aug. 4, 19251,921,812 Erdahl Aug. 8, 1933 2,410,959 Brown Nov. 12, 1946 2,415,572Jaques Feb. 11, 1947 2,418,601 Richards Apr. 8, 1947 2,421,970 SmithJune 10, 1947 2,480,537 Arps et al. Aug. 30, 1949 2,587,893 Pridy et al.Mar. 4, 1952

